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Would someone explain to me how they've managed to make something so simple in concept so damn complex?

I'm fine with the theory behind it, I've been normalising Databases for years, but the way we are being taught just takes the concept and makes it something 5 times harder, apparently, in order to reduce the amount of repeating data you have to start farting around with moving and repeating keys that you know you are going to remove later....

Bahaha, I can barely remember doing that. And it was 1.5 years ago now. Seems like yesturday, but... I have totally erased it from my memory.

Flipside wrote:Would someone explain to me how they've managed to make something so simple in concept so damn complex?

I'm fine with the theory behind it, I've been normalising Databases for years, but the way we are being taught just takes the concept and makes it something 5 times harder, apparently, in order to reduce the amount of repeating data you have to start farting around with moving and repeating keys that you know you are going to remove later....

I had this argument when I was 15, with my then Computing teacher. It ended with a "I've actually taught you too much anyway".

I've done studies on it this semester in my Database Design subject at uni. If you like, I could dig up the slides covering it if you'd like to read another perspective on it. Though if your familiar with the theory it probably won't do much good.

The way I see it, its about learning steps on normalising because although in some Universe's of Discourse your familiar with and can see the key's and efficiency issues immediately, in more complex UoD's it may be more difficult in identifying the most efficient databases.

That said, not all the steps are completely applicable in every situation, and depending on the DB's use, it may not be advisable to completely normalise in the first place. (completely atomic databases would be hell for large queries for example).

Just give me a heads up if you want those slides.

Please It's not complex, but you can't over-understand a concept, and since there's a test in 4 weeks, I'd like to be certain

Ok, let me know your email address either via PM or email me ([email protected]) and I'll send it away.

The lecture on normalisation is 266kb and is 56 slides long.

I could probably email you all 11 slides (around 4.5mb total uncompressed) if you like. Although it would take a while on dial up.
The subject covers the theorey on database design using Dr. Terry Halpin's "Object Role Modelling" technique or ORM.
Alternatively you can get most of the theorey on this particular technique from the website. http://www.orm.net/

I'm certain there would be additional material on normalisation online somewhere as well.

But yeah, let me know your email address and I'll send it away.